Miller's Collectables Price Guide 2007 - Jonty Hearnden, Katherine Higgins

Advantages: tender and movivng
Disadvantages: The first few chapters

...An interesting or unusual title makes a book more alluring to the reader. I have often picked up a book on the strength of the title alone. When the novel "Swallowing Grandma" by Kate Long was suggested at my book group I had to vote for it, as I was curious about such an odd title. The book is a coming of age saga centred on the life of 18 year old Katherine Miller and her unconventional family in Banktop, a fictional mining village supposedly between Wigan and Bolton. Katherine lives with her professional northerner of a grandmother Poll, as her father died before she was born and then her mother abandoned her shortly afterwards. The book is about Katherine's (or Kat as she wants to be known) quest to find herself and ultimately her mother. Katherine's story is intertwined with her mother's tragic story of coming to terms... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Well compiled, frank, moving and often amusing autobiography
Disadvantages: Sports fans will naturally find this more interesting but retains some general appeal.

...would be far more interesting today. Lamentably, love him or loathe him, they just do not have larger than life personalities like this in sport now. Just as the clips of the characters of yesteryear still produce pleasure for snooker fans then so will a re-read of this book. Consequently, it represents reasonable value. 'Alex Higgins - My Story: From the Eye of the Hurricane' Published by Headline Publishing Group, 2007 Paperback £6.99 though available used from Amazon from £1.90 Contains approximately a dozen black and white photographs 288 pages (+ career record and index) *Review published on Dooyoo and other sites under same name... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: brilliant!
Disadvantages: wanted to know more.

...to 1558 when Elizabeth1 comes to the throne. Part 1 of the book is devoted to Katherine of Aragon, Henry’s wife for over 20 years. There is a wealth of excellent data about this queen as she was a princess in her own right. The book charts her life from her early childhood as the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain to her death in her early 50’s. The book gives insight into how Katherine’s character was shaped by looking at her childhood. Her mother Queen Isabella had 10 pregnancies but only 5 of her children grew to maturity, not unusual in those days. I enjoyed reading about Katherine’s siblings and what happened to them. Katherine was initially married to Prince Arthur, Henrys older brother, the marriage created an alliance between Spain and England. However Arthur died after only a year of marriage at the age of 16. The book... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful